Patient SELECTION for the USE of A NOVEL Powder Dressing IN Home CARE

PURPOSETo assist homecare clinicians in selecting and assessing patients with wounds that would benefit from a novel powder dressing

• Describe criteria for selecting homecare patients for the use of a novel powder dressing
• Describe assessment criteria for determining wound progress
• Identify patient care and financial benefits of  novel powder dressing in the homecare venue when using the novel powder dressing

Homecare wound specialists continually search for products that will decrease healing time, nursing visits,  pain of dressing changes, and allow for patients to be discharged with simple wound care procedures. At Aurora VNA, a novel powder dressing has been employed and evaluated in numerous wound types.  The product was tested on 3 patients with lower extremity trauma wounds, which in prior treatment had healed to small dimensions then stalled. For each case, the patients were treated with resolution of the wounds within three visits.  Of critical importance to our clinicians in evaluating new therapies is determining the suitability of a patient and wound for a given therapy.  We have found that this novel powder dressing can be used in patients where the wound is free of infection or significant contamination.  In addition, our tests with extended wear show that patients who can be trusted to follow instructions and refrain from disturbing or adjusting the dressing have little or no wound care after discharge.  The value of the dressing must be assessed in terms of wound improvement over time and the level of supplemental care needed for a specific patient when this dressing is in place.  We present initial criteria that allow selection of a patient population that will benefit from the use of this dressing.